Animated waterfowl decoy apparatus

ABSTRACT

An animated waterfowl decoy apparatus includes a decoy housing, a pair of decoy wing members rotatably connected to the decoy housing, and an elongated stand supporting the housing to position the decoy housing over the surface of a body of water. The apparatus may be readily converted between wind-powered operation and motor-powered operation.

[0001] This continuation application, filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b), is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/273,875, filed Mar. 22, 1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to waterfowl decoy apparatus which is for the purpose of attracting waterfowl to a particular location. The apparatus incorporates rotating wings and has particular application to installation at a water site. It can also be deployed at a land site. The principles of the invention can also be applied to apparatuses simulating other types of birds, such as replicas of owls employed to ward off pigeons or other pests.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The use of decoys to attract waterfowl is an ancient practice. Typically, prior art decoys float on the surface of a body of water. A relatively recent development in the art of waterfowl decoys has been to provide some means for moving all or part of the decoy, the objective being to provide a decoy which appears more natural to waterfowl such as ducks or geese.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,683 to Solomon, issued Sep. 22, 1998, discloses a battery-powered apparatus to provide movable wings and feet on waterfowl decoys. The decoy floats on the surface of the water and incorporates wings which move back and forth.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,448, issued to Jackson Jan. 30, 1990, discloses a bird decoy, including a body and a flapping mechanism mounted therein moving a pair of wings which oscillate with respect to the body. The bird decoy is for positioning on the surface of a body of water.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,385, issued to Carranza Nov. 4, 1986, discloses a waterfowl decoy which incorporates a pair of rotatable wings slidably and rotatably received and secured on the axle of a bracket carried by the waterfowl decoy. The wings rotate when subjected to a breeze.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,722, to Berkley, issued Apr. 2, 1991, discloses a game bird decoy cut from flexible sheet plastic foam material and mounted on a pole to simulate the silhouette of a bird approaching landing on water or land.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,780, to Gazalski, issued Aug. 3, 1993, discloses a plastic-shelled game bird decoy operable through a cord, wire, rope, or the like, to cause wing flapping or flagging movement.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,764, to Peterson, issued Sep. 8, 1992, discloses a decoy with a pair of flexible wings which fluctuate in a flapping action in response to air flow over the wings.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,466, to Davis, issued Jun. 10, 1997, discloses an animal decoy apparatus including radio-controlled upper appendages. In the case where the animal is a waterfowl, the appendages simulate wings.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,619 to Stancil, issued Jan. 26, 1999, discloses an animated decoy wherein the appearance of symmetrical lateral movement, such as the flapping of a bird's wings, is provided by a rotating vane which has a light side and dark side. The patent suggests possible use of a motor to rotate the vane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention relates to a waterfowl decoy apparatus incorporating a unique combination of structural elements which cooperate in a unique manner to provide a highly effective attractant to flying waterfowl, such as ducks or geese.

[0013] The apparatus provides for positioning of the decoy per se above the surface of a body of water so that damage to the decoy housing and mechanism employed therein is minimized. The animation of the decoy provides a display which attracts waterfowl to the location of the apparatus, the display being caused by a housing in the shape of a waterfowl and rotating wings just above the surface of the body of water where the apparatus is positioned. The apparatus is capable of being powered either by an electric motor or by the force of wind.

[0014] The apparatus may be readily broken down into individual structural components for shipping or storage purposes.

[0015] The waterfowl decoy apparatus of the present invention includes a decoy housing having the configuration of a waterfowl's body and defining a housing interior.

[0016] Decoy wing members are rotatably connected to the decoy housing and extend outwardly from opposed sides of the decoy housing.

[0017] An electric motor is disposed within the housing interior along with a transmission means for operatively interconnecting the electric motor to the pair of decoy wing members.

[0018] Electric battery means is operatively associated with the electric motor to energize and cause operation of the electric motor. The transmission means, when operatively interconnecting the electric motor to the decoy wing members, causes rotation of the decoy wing members responsive to energization and operation of the electric motor.

[0019] The waterfowl decoy apparatus also includes an elongated support stand connected to the decoy housing and extending downwardly therefrom. The elongated support stand has a lower distal end for positioning in the earth under a body of water to support the decoy housing above the surface of the body of water.

[0020] Other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021]FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view illustrating the waterfowl decoy apparatus of the present invention positioned in a body of water.

[0022]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an upper portion of the apparatus and illustrating movement of a cover employed in the decoy housing movable between open and closed positions.

[0023]FIG. 3 is a frontal elevational view of an upper portion of the apparatus.

[0024]FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating the cover of the decoy housing in open position disclosing the contents of the housing interior.

[0025]FIG. 5 is a partial sectional perspective view illustrating selected components disposed within the interior of the decoy housing as seen from the front.

[0026]FIG. 6 is a partial sectional top view illustrating the components within the housing interior, the rear end of the housing being disposed downwardly in FIG. 6.

[0027]FIG. 7 is a partial sectional perspective view illustrating the components of the interior of the housing with batteries removed and drive belt in a position operatively disengage wing members from an electric motor to permit movement of the wing members by wind.

[0028]FIG. 8 is a side elevational view illustrating the decoy housing oriented head-first into wind, the wind rotating the wing members.

[0029]FIG. 9 is a partial sectional exploded top perspective view illustrating assembly of selected structural components of the apparatus.

[0030]FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the waterfowl decoy apparatus broken down into its individual components for shipping or storage purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

[0031] Referring initially to FIG. 4 of the drawings, a waterfowl decoy apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a decoy housing 10 having the configuration of a waterfowl's body and defining a housing interior 12. The decoy housing may be constructed of any suitable material such as plastic or fiberglass and includes a cover portion 14, as seen in FIG. 2, connected to the rest of the decoy housing by a hinge 16 and moveable between a closed position wherein the housing interior is closed by the cover portion as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, and an open position shown in dashed lines wherein the housing interior is exposed for access by an individual. Any suitable means such as an elastic band 18 may be employed to releasably retain the cover portion closed.

[0032] A pair of decoy wing members 20 are rotatably connected to the decoy housing and extend outwardly from opposed sides of the decoy housing. The structure of the decoy wing members and their cooperative relationship with other structural elements of the apparatus is discussed in detail below.

[0033] The waterfowl decoy apparatus includes an elongated support stand 24 connected to the decoy housing 10 and extending downwardly therefrom. The elongated support stand may be formed of any suitable material such as metal, for example steel or aluminum, or plastic.

[0034] Support stand 24 includes telescoping elongated support stand members 26, 28, as seen in FIG. 1, which are relatively movable with respect to one another and locked against movement when the support stand is the desired length by any suitable expedient such as connector 30. Connector 30 includes a bolt and wing nut, the bolt passing through aligned apertures (not shown) in the support stand members to provide the desired support stand length.

[0035] The elongated support stand 24 has a lower distal end for positioning in the earth under a body of water to support the decoy housing above the surface of the body of water shown in FIG. 1. The support stand 24 includes handle members 32 for grasping by hand to facilitate positioning of the elongated support stand in the earth.

[0036] Mounting shafts 72 are inserted into recesses formed in the ends of shaft 60, as seen in FIG. 9. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting shafts 72 are secured in place by cotter pins 74 which are placed in aligned holes formed in the shaft 60 and mounting shafts 72. It will be appreciated and understood by those having skill in the art that the ends of shaft 60 could be inserted into recesses in mounting shafts 72 and that shaft 60 and mounting shafts 72 can be secured together by any expedient, including set screws, nuts and bolts, a spring biased finger and aperture combination, or threaded fasteners.

[0037] When the wing members 20 are secured in place by cotter pins 74 and batteries 52 are in place, actuation of switch 56 will energize motor 50 thus rotating the shaft 60 and wing members 20 to present an attractive display to flying waterfowl. Movement of the wings may also serve to cause a certain amount of agitation of the water surface if the wings are disposed relatively close thereto.

[0038] If desired, the apparatus can be readily converted to wind power use. This is accomplished as shown in FIG. 7 by moving the drive belt 68 out of operative engagement with the pulley 62 and electric motor 50. Wings 70 are suitably shaped using known aerodynamic principles to rotate from the force of the wind as shown in FIG. 8.

[0039] The apparatus can be readily partially disassembled so that its primary structural components are separate as shown in FIG. 10. This allows the apparatus to be stored and/or shipped in a smaller container than would be the case if the assembled apparatus were involved. It should also be noted with reference to FIG. 10 that the support stand members are completely telescoped to reduce the overall size of the support stand during storage and shipment.

[0040] Modifications can be made to the apparatus if desired. For example, the apparatus can be employed using conventional signal transmission equipment to permit remote on/off control.

[0041] There have thus been described and illustrated certain preferred embodiments of an apparatus for attracting waterfowl according to the invention. Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be thus limited, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 

I claim:
 1. An animated bird replica apparatus employable as a decoy, said apparatus comprising: a housing having the configuration of a bird's body having a housing top simulating a substantially complete bird body top, a head end, a tail end, and a longitudinal axis extending between said head end and said tail end, said housing defining a housing interior, and a pair of bird wing members rotatably connected to said housing between said head end and said tail end, extending outwardly from opposed sides of said housing laterally of said longitudinal axis and fully rotatable around a common axis.
 2. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 1 including: means for supporting said housing above and out of direct contact with a body of water comprising an elongated support stand connected to said housing and extending downwardly therefrom, said elongated support stand having a lower distal end for positioning in the earth under the body of water and sufficient length to support said housing and said bird wing members above the surface of the body of water, said elongated support stand supporting said housing when said elongated support stand is positioned in the earth under the body of water with the entire housing top oriented upwardly and the entire housing top and the bird wing members being observable from a location over said elongated support stand and said housing.
 3. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 1 including: an electric motor disposed within said housing interior, transmission means disposed within said housing interior for operatively interconnecting said electric motor to said pair of bird wing members, said transmission means including a rotatable bird wing member support within said housing interior extending between, connected to and supporting said bird wing members, and electric battery means operatively associated with said electric motor to energize and cause operation of said electric motor, said transmission means operatively interconnecting said electric motor to said pair of bird wing members for causing rotation of said bird wing members responsive to operation of said electric motor.
 4. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 3 including: said wing members having inwardly extending mounting shafts, and cotter pins each extending through said rotatable bird wing member support and one of said mounting shafts releasably connecting said mounting shafts to opposed ends of said rotatable bird wing member support.
 5. An animated bird replica apparatus employable as a decoy, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a housing having the configuration of a bird's body having a housing top simulating a substantially complete bird body top, a head end, a tail end, and a longitudinal axis extending between said head end and said tail end, said housing defining a housing interior, a pair of bird wing members rotatably connected to said housing between said head end and said tail end, extending outwardly from opposed sides of said housing laterally of said longitudinal axis and fully rotatable around a common axis, an electric motor disposed within said housing interior, transmission means disposed within said housing interior for operatively interconnecting said electric motor to said pair of bird wing members, said transmission means including a rotatable bird wing member support within said housing interior extending between, connected to and supporting said bird wing members, electric battery means operatively associated with said electric motor to energize and cause operation of said electric motor, said transmission means operatively interconnecting said electric motor to said pair of bird wing members causing rotation of said bird wing members responsive to operation of said electric motor, and means for supporting said housing above and out of direct contact with a body of water comprising an elongated support stand connected to said housing and extending downwardly therefrom, said elongated support stand having a lower distal end for positioning in the earth under the body of water and sufficient length to support said housing and said bird wing members above the surface of the body of water, and said elongated support stand supporting said housing when said elongated support stand is positioned in the earth under the body of water with the entire housing top oriented upwardly and the entire housing top and the bird wing members being observable from a location over said elongated support stand and said housing.
 6. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 5 including: said wing members having inwardly extending mounting shafts, and releasable connector means releasably connecting said mounting shafts to opposed ends of said rotatable bird wing member support.
 7. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 6 wherein: said mounting shafts are received within said rotatable bird wing member support.
 8. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 5 wherein: said releasable connector means comprise cotter pins each extending through said rotatable bird wing member support and one of said mounting shafts.
 9. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said elongated support stand includes at least two elongated relatively movable support stand members for varying the effective length of said elongated support stand and lock means for selectively locking said support stand members against relative movement.
 10. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 5 additionally including adjustable connector means adjustably and releasably connecting said elongated support stand to said housing whereby the orientation of said housing relative to said elongated support stand can be selectively varied.
 11. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 5 additionally comprising one handle member projecting laterally from said elongated support stand and sized for manual grasping by an individual to facilitate positioning of the elongated support stand in and removal of the elongated support stand from the earth.
 12. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 5 wherein: said transmission means is selectively adjustable to terminate operative interconnection between said electric motor and said pair of bird wing members and allow said pair of bird wing members to fully rotate responsive to the impact of wind thereon without said electric motor exerting a drag force impeding rotation.
 13. A method of attracting waterfowl to a particular location comprising: supporting above and out of contact with the surface of a body of water an animated bird replica apparatus comprising a housing having the configuration of a bird's body with a pair of bird wing members configured to allow rotation by wind rotatably connected to said housing extending outwardly from opposed sides of said housing and fully rotatable about a common axis of rotation, said housing containing means for energizing said bird wing members to rotate comprising an electric motor and transmission means for operatively interconnecting said electric motor to said pair of bird wing members, and electric battery means operatively associated with said electric motor to energize and cause operation of said electric motor; activating said energizing means to rotate said bird wing members, and selectively deactivating said energizing means to convert said animated bird replica apparatus to wind power use. 